Conservative Daily News » Brian Evanshttp://www.conservativedailynews.com
The best conservative political news, analysis and opinionSun, 02 Aug 2015 21:49:54 +0000en-UShourly1http://wordpress.org/?v=4.2.3Convention of the States…a Refute to a Runaway Conventionhttp://www.conservativedailynews.com/2014/03/convention-of-the-states-a-refute-to-a-runaway-convention/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2014/03/convention-of-the-states-a-refute-to-a-runaway-convention/#commentsThu, 20 Mar 2014 08:30:27 +0000http://www.conservativedailynews.com/?p=97027Many people are jumping on the Constitutional Convention bandwagon. I wanted to address a couple of issues with Michael Farris’ latest article about the Runaway Convention Myth.

In his article titled “Can We Trust the Constitution? Answering the Runaway Convention Myth”, he states that opponents to a Constitutional Convention claim two arguments, they are 1) “the delegates were instructed to merely amend the Articles of Confederation, but they wrote a whole new document and 2) The ratification process was improperly changed from 13 state legislatures to 9 state ratification conventions.

First, let’s straighten something out, Michael Farris should know better than the U.S. Constitution is the “supreme Law of the Land”…not the Supreme Law of the Land. The Declaration of the Independence references the “Supreme Judge of the world…” and our U.S. Constitution refers to the Supreme Court as the “supreme Court”. Our founders understood the limits of a manmade Constitution and the existence of a “higher law”.

Being the founder of a religious college, hopefully there’s no further explanation needed but it does explain why he’d support a Convention of the States in controlling the federal government. The understanding that there is a higher law is the reason there’s opposition to a Constitutional Convention.

You cannot control the actions or morals of individuals through manmade law.

According to the article, the delegates for both the Constitutional Convention and State ratifications conventions were selected by popular vote…which meant that state legislatures had no say in calling, conducting or ratifying our current Constitution. The claims were that they were instructed but were they instructed? That we are merely saying is that the delegates went to the convention and created a whole new document. Not sure if George Washington, Alexander Hamilton or Benjamin Franklin, necessarily needed direction in how to conduct the convention, they were elected by popular vote.

Whereas the Articles of Confederation may not have given the Continental Congress authority to “call” a convention, the U.S. Constitution does.

The fact that the number of states to ratify the Constitution was changed from 13 to 9 is the point.

We trust the Constitution; we don’t trust the current political process to fix a document that has endured centuries.

As Michael Farris is in good company with Ruth Bader Ginsburg as she wishes to change the Constitution also.

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2014/03/convention-of-the-states-a-refute-to-a-runaway-convention/feed/1Government’s Role of Using the Collectiveshttp://www.conservativedailynews.com/2012/01/governments-role-of-using-the-collectives/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2012/01/governments-role-of-using-the-collectives/#commentsTue, 24 Jan 2012 15:07:17 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=35049Author Andy Andrews recently released a book titled “How Do You Kill 11 Million People”. No, it is not a self-help book but explains tactics the Nazi government used on its own people. Essentially, the Nazi government lied.

How? Initially, the government erected fences around the communities, telling the Jewish people that it was to protect them from the Russians. Jewish leaders also accepted bribes from the government to suppress riots and escape attempts. Finally, a few government officials, mostly unarmed, entered the communities and proclaimed jobs, security and schools were waiting; all they needed was to keep their families intact and board the trains. The book provided excellent statistics about how the government deceived their people into holocaust.

The worst atrocities conducted upon people have been done by their own government. Pol Pot murdered 3 out of 8 Cambodians in the killing fields of Cambodia, Stalin’s man caused famines killed millions in Ukraine and Mao’s Zedong’s “Great Leap Forward”, a social engineering experiment killing 25 million Chinese. So, why do citizens’ lobby for government’s intervention when they have such a dismal record?

Others do not interact with government enough to think of it as an extension of the people. They believe government makes decisions and we, the citizens, pay the taxes. Even unemployment, social security and welfare are political footballs where a person still answers to bureaucrats. We believe government is extremely inefficient and unable to conquer these difficult tasks.

As government promotes the “greater good for the whole” philosophy, it justifies the draconian, government policies and the destructive results, especially individual rights. With eminent domain and crony capitalism that favors certain businesses, it’s destroying the private sector. There is no better system than the free market. It has flaws but it’s far better than fascism, communism, socialism or any other collective government.

“The greatest tyrannies are always perpetrated in the name of the noblest causes.” – Thomas Paine

Our representative government is watered down with layers of bureaucratic red tape. Politicians handing our Republic to unelected bureaucrats in public-private partnerships! When government plays this role, it impacts us all. These partnerships, protecting their self-interest, infringe on our liberties with unaccountable regional governments, planning commissions and non-governmental organizations (NGO).

The next time someone advocates for government intervention with master plans, eminent domain and universal health care, remember that it’s your ability to make decisions that is diminished. It is also the freedoms of others that you are taking away. It may feel good initially but the sacrifice is far greater.

Do not let the fences be built around or through our community. Do not allow representatives to be bribed with federal loans or grants with strings attached. Do not let bureaucrats use you to take away others’ freedoms. Because when that train comes down the tracks and the doors open, there’s no bargaining.

This destructive nature of a fascist government pits citizens against each other to satisfy their goals. But as citizens’ we must not give up those liberties…your being sold a bad batch of apples and don’t cheer as others’ lose theirs. Because someday, there will be people cheering as you lose yours.

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2012/01/governments-role-of-using-the-collectives/feed/0Tim Tebow Does it Again, and So Does Mainstream Mediahttp://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/12/tim-tebow-does-it-again-and-so-does-mainstream-media-adultery/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/12/tim-tebow-does-it-again-and-so-does-mainstream-media-adultery/#commentsThu, 15 Dec 2011 10:23:06 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=30617Tim Tebow has done it again. As quarterback of the Denver Broncos, this past weekend he led them to yet another fourth quarter comeback victory. With the Chicago Bears up 10 points, he put together two drives that ended with a 59-yard Pratter kick sending the game into overtime. This is where Pratter kicked the game winning 51-yard kick to give Tebow his seventh win out of eight starts, impeccable for a veteran let alone a sophomore professional. Among all this, mainstream media is dismissing the remarkable stories for a fixation on his display of faith and being a Christian.

Mainstream media has become the social bullies to Christianity, on a scale unmet by any schoolyard kid. They spotlight Tim pointing to the sky, bowing in prayer and comments to his Savior Jesus. While also pointing out Reggie White “polarizing religious figure”, ESPN points to an “era of negativity and anonymous hate”. In some instances, the media has watchdogs for themselves. Newsbusters didn’t waste any time in criticizing USA Today for ignoring Tim Tebow’s religious stance. By the way, who really has a problem with Tim’s religious acts?

Earlier last week, Fox Sports highlighted John Elway’s comments denouncing Tim Tebow’s display of faith. John later admitted that he had given the media too much meat to spin.

The mainstream media seems to have a serious problem with his displaying loyalty to God and their true colors toward Christianity are clear. Before Tim Tebow could make it out of the stadium, the Wall Street Journal stated, “defying his critics and revealing the deep seated anxieties in American society about intertwining religion and sports.” Who? Maybe the fans of his opponent or a few activist groups who advocate for an overreaching government may have a problem with Tebow’s celebrations. According to the PEW Forum on Religion & Public Life, 78.4 percent of Americans practice Christianity. We are constantly bombarded by the supposed disrespect that displaying Christianity has become…and Tim represents this.

What’s wrong with him thanking God, praying or practicing Christianity? Is this about people having a problem with a 24-year old demonstrating his faith or the future mainstream media and Hollywood has of our future, America without religion? It is painted as this evil ritual that should not be tolerated and Tim Tebow must be put in his collective place. We, as the audience, are robbed of the great accomplishments and example of this kid.

Our media is full of anti-religion memorabilia. No stone was left unturned when it came to Terry Jones burning the Koran. …and no funeral would be complete without the anti-military or anti-gay rhetoric of the Westboro Baptist Church. Even Hollywood took their digs when Mel Gibson produced “Passion of the Christ,” that ended up 17th on the all-time gross sales list. After this, Mel Gibson’s career seem to have taken a nose dive.

These events are even monitored at the local level. In Newport News, Virginia, The Daily Press addressed the practicing of religion in public concerns from the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a group based out of Madison, Wisconsin. The article even provides recommendations in luau of prayer…a moment of silence. Now, they provide guidelines to clergy for providing invocation at city council meetings, a sort of practice our religion. I guess the practice of Atheism should be addressed in this manner or the right that our clergy is not provided the right to practice freedom of religion in public.

During the New York City mosque incident, the mainstream media injected it was a freedom of religion practice ensuring that the narrative remained as such. The true argument was about flying the flag of the people who declared war under that flag. Now, if the discussion was about how far this corridor should reside, so be it but it wasn’t. It was determined that the mosque must be built in the shadows of the World Trade Center.

The media and Hollywood continues to expose Christians as evil and religion having no place in public. Should we be given the right to practice freedom of religion…that’s one of our Constitutional rights? And even though you cannot opt your kid out of sex education class, the clergy’s prayer has no place in the American public.

Meanwhile, Tim Tebow has offered us an insight to how the media views religion. We have a media that extenuates the circumstances involving religious acts. They paint a tone that seems rather anti-religion and highlights flaws of a person that commits flaws. As we have bureaucrats and politicians robbing us blind, the media focuses on Tim’s allegedly breaking up Lindsey Vonn’s marriage, and International Business has labeled him as “God’s Quarterback”. It’s nice to see a young man doing what he enjoys, inspired by his faith providing a self-confidence that inspires him to do remarkable things…and inspire others around him. This is the true issue, we cannot have citizen’s inspired by a God that promotes individualism and self-responsibility. Faith that instills a belief in yourself and a responsibility to yourself, a standard most people cannot obtain. Media has no place in a peerson’s relationship with God.

With Tim Tebow’s success, the media is forced to engage on this adventure waiting on the opportunity for him to fail. As we know, his comeback victories will not last forever. So the mainstream media will eventually have their time with their “see we told you so” glory. But for now, they will need to wait another week to baste in the glory of another American individual failing. If there people are truly disgusted with his display of religion, it’s likely because he is beating their team and the mainstream media is taking advantage of this, by pointing out what they view as a fringe ritual.

For that reason, I have become a Denver Broncos, Tim Tebow fan. Not only because of his God given ability but because of the role model he is, how others are inspired by him and his respect for others. Will he slip up? He is only human. For now, the only limits on Tim Tebow are the ones he puts upon himself and this cannot be tolerated in a collective world, a mainstream media’s utopia without religion.

It’s a shame because the media will be waiting to gleefully point out his flaws and how hypocritical it is. But for now, they will need to wait another week.

For this reason, I’d like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS.

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/12/tim-tebow-does-it-again-and-so-does-mainstream-media-adultery/feed/0An Evening of Learning With Nunshttp://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/11/an-evening-of-learning-with-nuns/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/11/an-evening-of-learning-with-nuns/#commentsWed, 23 Nov 2011 08:34:42 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=27994This past weekend, my wife, Melinda and I embarked on a journey to Richmond, VA to attend, what I jokingly refer to as my “Save the World” Conference. When we normally go to Richmond, we visit her aunt and this time was no different. You see, her aunt isn’t like all the other aunts. She doesn’t live in a house, own a car or have any possessions. Sister Angela is a nun who has declared her loyalty to God at “The Little Sisters of the Poor.”

As we arrived late on Friday afternoon, the receptionist informed Sister Angela of our arrival. Sister Angela greeted us with her usual smile and cheerful hello while being assisted with a walker. In her 70s and having been a nun for over 50 years, she doesn’t quite get around like she used too. We had dinner and I made reference to how misguided society is. She shook her head in her usual non-confrontational manner and smiled, not truly affirming yes or no.

After dinner, Melinda and her went to finish some arts and crafts. Sister Angela’s contribution is doing arts and crafts with the residents. This provides meaningful activities for the residents and produces gifts and merchandise for the gift shop.

Arts and crafts are not my cup of tea so I headed out to do my new Thanksgiving tradition of sorting canned goods. As I made my way through the hallway, two sisters were helping three residents. Two of the residents were in wheelchairs and the other wasn’t far. Watching those sisters in action was like poetry in motion as they worked in harmony to provide the care needed. I did not think about injecting myself, as I would have only slowed them down. So, I proceeded to my mundane chore.

Walking into the room, the reality of the task was overwhelming as donated cans were everywhere. My previous comment on society was eased slightly as I saw the giving. So, I started my task. Working in solitude, I slowly devised my organizational scheme. I shouldn’t admit this but stacking cans can be quite addictive.

While in my state of unconsciousness, I would occasionally be interrupted by Melinda or Sister Angela checking on me. I threw the obligatory salute and proceeded with the task at hand. This time, Sister Collette entered the room who I’d never met. She was checking on her pet project and informed me there would be volunteers coming the next day. I was even more determined to finish the task at hand. When Melinda came to help, the dent in my project was hardly obvious. Once we figured how Melinda would fit into my newly created scheme I’d spent hours perfecting, we were off again.

Shortly after midnight, we realized that if we were going to the “Save the World” Conference that we needed some sleep. As we were leaving, we looked back in amazement that we were only half way finished. I guess that was the pessimistic way of looking at it but at least the volunteers would come in handy. We would wake up, had breakfast with Sister Angela and we’d be on our way.

The “Save the World” Conference seemed rather trivial in comparison. After being around these ladies, you understand what helping others truly mean. This is not the occasional occurrence or a 9-5 job, helping others is their life. They are organized, pleasant and disciplined. We hear so much from others telling us what we should do to help the poor while these ladies are showing us how it is truly done. It is difficult for politician, environmentalists and even fellow human beings to stand next to them for the goodness they represent. They have made so many sacrifices in the name of God that we could not truly understand what that means. Hopefully, next time you see a Sister in her attire that you extend your gratitude. So many times, I have seen them mocked. As I did not say anything then, I know better now. But extend a Thank You to a Sister for what she does. Most likely you’ll receive a warm smile and greeting in return for your gratitude.

In the next couple of weeks, the War on Christmas begins and it would be nice to see a Christmas to where God isn’t attacked. But in this environment, anything that promotes individualism is demonized. But as usual, the onslaught will continue in the media and in public. Even if you do not practice religion, at least show them the respect they have worked so hard to deserve by allowing their Savior to be blessed in public.

The volunteers did not show up, the Congressional Super Committee, as predicted, did not fix our financial problems and the poor are multiplying in America but you know that the nuns at the “Little Sisters of the Poor” are chugging along as they have done for so many years. Lyndon B. Johnson declared Government’s “War on Poverty” and Sister Angela took action to help the poor at nearly the same time and I have to say…Sister Angela’s is doing her part to truly help the poor.

As a family member (even if I’m a transplant), I wanted to take this opportunity to share this moment with you and say thanks to all who sacrifice and the volunteer at the Little Sisters of the Poor. If you get the opportunity…help a church.

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/11/an-evening-of-learning-with-nuns/feed/0Flashbulb Memories, What Were You Doing On September 11, 2001?http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/09/flashbulb-memories-what-were-you-doing-on-september-11-2011/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/09/flashbulb-memories-what-were-you-doing-on-september-11-2011/#commentsThu, 08 Sep 2011 05:06:20 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=18722Do you remember where you were on that September day in 2001? Some people can remember where they were with such clarity. These memories are known as “Flashbulb Memories”. They occur when an individual’s history meets History in the making. There is not a lot of study on this phenomenon but some of these memories are associated with events such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, John F. Kennedy assassination, the Challenger disaster and September 11, 2011. Sometimes, they accompany significant personal events such as births, deaths, marriages or divorces.

The Pew Research Center report stated that on September 5, 2002 97 percent of surveyed remembered where they were when they learned of the situation. In 2006, 95 percent surveyed remembered and just last month (August 2011), 97 percent remember.

But with all situations, there are skeptics. Some studies say that people forget or replace important details within the recollections. Even though some details may be skewed, certain details of that day are certainly there.

On May 1, 2011, news of Osama bin Laden’s assassination would hit the airwaves. In the same survey, in August only 81 percent surveyed remembered exactly where they were at the time of Osama’s assassination. Obviously, these memories are not quite as vivid as 9/11.

Do you have a flashbulb memory of what you were doing when you learned of 9/11?

For me, it was a nice Tuesday morning on September 11, 2001. Our base safety inspector and I were conducting a unit safety inspection. As we walked into our next shop, breaking news on the TV caught our attention. We witnessed smoke bellowing out of the World Trade Center building. It was reported that the plane deviated off course. As we were baffled with such incompetence, we witnessed the second plane disintegrate into the second tower. As we stood in shock, the inspector received a call to return to headquarters.

Ten days later, I would deploy from a somber, almost lifeless nation. Nothing moved, everything was closed, airplanes grounded except for the ones we were boarding as we deployed to the Middle East. Six months later, I would return to a United States so unified and patriotic it was amazing; there were patriotic songs and flags flying everywhere. It was quite a different nation than when I’d left. …and one different from now. But these memories of my return aren’t quite as clear as the ones I recollect on that nice September day in 2001. Brian Evans

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/09/flashbulb-memories-what-were-you-doing-on-september-11-2011/feed/0Master Plans: Free Market or Social Engineering?http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/08/master-plans-free-market-or-social-engineering/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/08/master-plans-free-market-or-social-engineering/#commentsTue, 16 Aug 2011 04:30:59 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=16436Hampton, VA – As the council meeting heated up, citizens’ questioned the Mayor’s involvement in the City’s acquisition of Harbor Square apartments. Constituents’ questioned her possibly receiving profits from the sale of this complex to the city. All this accomplished under the strict guidelines of a Comprehensive or Master Plan. With trends of local governments denying businesses, churches and private developers the opportunity to provide services, a good question is whether the city is practicing free market or social engineering?

Master Plans are the center of cities across the nation. City councils use them to steer their city’s vision stretching as far as 2030. They use them to justify keeping citizen’s and businesses in line but when does a plan become counterproductive? How can a constituency turn the direction of their city when unelected bureaucrats are making the decisions? When a plan made by a few is burdened by the whole.

In Hampton, The Richman Group, offered to invest $11 million to rehabilitate Harbor Square Apartments. In March, City Council “voted unanimously not to designate Harbor Square a housing revitalization area.” The reason for the vote was that “the proposal isn’t consistent with a downtown master plan that envisages a time when the apartments at Harbor Square will no longer exist, or the aspirations of some downtown business owners who made their views known.” The city is not trying to change the existing layout, they had changed the zoning to something other than what it is now. The crime ridden, dilapidated apartment complex would remain as is.

After denying the Richman Group the master plan’s revitalization revision, several months later the city voted 4-2 to acquire Harbor Square Apartments for $14.5 million. The plans are that the apartments are to be demolished in 2015. As noted, the Downtown Master Plan was developed with input from more than 300 people. Even though voting against the Richman Group, Councilman Tuck placed reservations in voting against the purchase on the heels of issuing a $38 million bond for the building of a new Courthouse.

While defending the Mayor, the city manager states, “The City decided to pursue the acquisition after hearing from many downtown community members that they did not want to see the property rehabilitated when such an offer was made in March of this year.” As the citizens at the council meeting do not like the city’s acquisition of Harbor Square Apartments, their issues are with the Mayor’s involvement.

While most focus on the Mayor’s personal gain, there are questions that stem much deeper. Who encompasses “the City” and why aren’t elected officials making these decisions? Who exactly does a person vote for, or against, if they feel that elected officials are leading their city in the wrong direction? Who exactly are these “downtown community members”? And most importantly, why are conclusions made outside city council meetings (i.e. discussions held with downtown community members)? The most important question is…how does a citizenry stop “the City” when they appear to be on a suicide mission in pursuit of utopia? Since the Mayor does not pursue…who does? This is about elected officials being accountable to their decisions according to the current circumstances, not holding them accountable to a plan developed by a non-elected bureaucrat.

According to a Case Study conducted by Diana Schor, “Hampton turns every crisis into an opportunity by tapping into its civic base. In 2010, the City had a 5% budget shortfall ($19 million), the worst budget crisis in the last couple of decades. To respond to it, the City has “reinvented itself”…” So, is this how “the City” is responding to this crisis? They move toward the same agenda only changing the players, or reinventing themselves. If there were a crisis last year, why would the city invest $52.5 million into infrastructure this year?

So, the Daily Press quoted a former Downtown Hampton Development Partnership director saying that this was a once in a lifetime chance to change the course of downtown. Is this the downtown community member that determine Harbor Square’s fate?

“The City” took this opportunity to deny a developer from providing a better life for our poor citizens…how is that wrong? So, the Richman Group was not looking for a change in reality which was an apartment complex, they were looking for a change in the plan. For the taxpayers of Hampton, there was a $25.5 million swing, along with the revenue lost in collecting property taxes as the city pursues its dream. But in the end, is this free market or social engineering?

“In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.” – Karl Marx, the Communist Manifesto

Most people at the Hampton Roads Convention Center were enthused to make Fort Monroe, Virginia a National Park, especially the Conservation Groups. An elderly lady demanded the federal government confiscate over two million acres of property surrounding National Parks to preserve them. The most disturbing comment came from a teenager. While describing his nature trip along the James River, he explained private property was the cause of the destruction of our beaches…the sound of freedom was slowly deflating from his future. One councilwoman provided three names John Mallory, Frank Baker and Sheppard Townsend for the youth to look up, she rather left out a vital lesson. Private property is actually the pillar of freedom; it allows us to make decisions without needing the authorization of someone else.

As it would be nice for Fort Monroe to become a National Park, it should not be done at the expense of confiscating private property. After reading Scott Rigell’s House Bill 2456 and Mark Warner and Jim Webb’s Senate Bill 1303, there are questions of whether property ownership is being infringed. Most of the maps did not have a north beach in Hampton and the bill referred to the map. So, one can only assume that lines are drawn but is private property being taken?

“Now what liberty can there be where property is taken without consent?” – Samuel Adams

While our city councils pursue their global goals at their constituents’ expense, the question is whether they respect our property rights. As they make decisions on the regional level and follow international direction, it’s sad to say that they do not.

One of the objectives of United Nations Agenda 21 is to eliminate private property. These UN practices are active within the Hampton Roads Region and across the nation. The citizens of this nation use to exercise “government run by the people,” but now our neighbors, who we elect, have taken the role of “governance of the people.” As we move toward a Global Community, the President has given an executive order to assist rural areas in their fundamental transition.

On June 9, 2011, he signed Executive Order 13575 that establishes “a council to better coordinate Federal programs and maximize the impact of Federal investment to promote economic prosperity and quality of life in our communities.” This Council consists of 25 Federal agencies to include the Department of Defense, Homeland Security and the Department of Education to name a few. Why would these agencies be needed in rural America? As sixteen percent of population is in rural America, the language used in this Executive Order is consistent with some used by Agenda 21. Its intentions are to place the populations within allowable regions. This is known as “The Wildlands Project.” Whether we are at this stage or not is beyond me, but the intentions is to restrict human activity to certain regions in the nation.

“Property must be secured, or liberty cannot exist.” – John Adams

Property rights is the foundation of freedom and without it, we are slaves. It allows people to make decisions about their own property; no need for a committee, paperwork or fees. Just do it. These rights do not stop at your property lines, they entail your businesses, your family and whatever other possessions you may have. Without private property and mainly property rights, liberty does not exist.

“The rights of persons, and the rights of property, are the objects, for the protection of Government was instituted. These rights cannot well be separated” – James Madison, Speech at the Virginia Convention, 1829

As our neighbors who were elected as Mayors and city council have become masters of the soviets. We were taught the atrocities of communism, the bad things that it and fascism did to their people. Our children are taught to idolize Che Guevara and Mao Zedong and are not exposed to the evils of people who studied and practiced Karl Marx such as Mao Zedong, Joseph Stalin, Vladmir Lenin, Benito Mussolini and even Adolf Hitler.

“The Utopian schemes of re-distribution of the wealth…are as visionary and impractical as those which vest all property in the Crown.” – Samuel Adams

If anyone wishes to discuss important slave history with our children, they should start with the importance of private property rights. Then our children, such as the young teenager who spoke at the Fort Monroe public forum, would truly understand the meaning of freedom. If our children do not understand that, they do not understand freedom. Once you no longer have these rights, freedom no longer exists because you have nowhere to go…except someone else’s property.

]]>http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/07/fort-monroe-property-rights-and-communism/feed/0City Council Attacks Taxicab Entrepreneurshttp://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/06/city-councils-attack-taxicab-entrepreneurs/
http://www.conservativedailynews.com/2011/06/city-councils-attack-taxicab-entrepreneurs/#commentsWed, 29 Jun 2011 02:56:07 +0000http://conservativedailynews.com/?p=13851City councils across the nation are taking a page from the Federal Government in their ability to take over entire industries. Taxicab companies are fighting against their local bureaucrats for their very existence. In Hampton Roads, Virginia, it is no different. Just like when the Federal Government accused doctors of cutting off limbs for more money, apparently local governments feel taxicab drivers exhibit the same characteristics. They claim drivers take longer routes, overcharge customers, drive unsafe vehicles and provided selected services. These bureaucrats use crony capitalism to dismantle the taxicab industry. Now, the term public-private partnership is worn proudly.

In 2007, the City of Hampton, Virginia used tax money to hire the Tennessee Transportation and Logistics Foundation (TTLF) to conduct a Taxi study. The study states that restructuring “depends upon the actions of the existing or potential full service taxi companies.” It also states that things could deteriorate with the loss of Hampton’s only full service taxi company if it decides to relocate its equipment and capacity elsewhere. In addition, GPS technology to track cabs; vehicle age limits and 24/7 dispatching were requirements within the study and it acknowledged some businesses will not be able to comply and go out of business. So, the City of Hampton implements an ordinance that prohibits nearly all from doing business in Hampton Roads.

Someone gave this college professor (disguised as a company) the authority to implement an ordinance that puts people out of business. Our local governments are instilling draconian ordinances that cannot be refuted and greatly impacts the industry catering to limited number of companies.

The neighboring city of Newport News took a slightly different route by appointing a Transportation Panel to engage the issue. Two organizations represented were the airport and the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber who voiced concern about the customer service and impact that the taxicab industry has on tourism in Newport News. So, when researching the Chamber’s membership, the two active members under the taxicab category are the Yellow Cab of Hampton and Yellow Cab of Newport News, the largest companies in their respected locales.

If the Transportation Panel wishes to protest the taxicab customer service or tourism issues, the airport should not be involved. With body scanners, taxicabs are the least of their customer service problems. While the airport implemented a 10-year vehicle age limit on taxicabs, the average age of a Delta aircraft is 13.8 years and US Airways is 12.2 years. What age restriction is the airport going to require of these airlines? Oh, that’s right…. Crony Capitalism.

There are situations like this happening across the nation. Salt Lake City reduced the number of taxis 25 percent and the number of cab companies to two. They even restricted the number of taxis waiting at the airport. Just this week, San Francisco taxi drivers went on strike due to mandatory credit card machines. Now, where’s the outrage at our city government for pushing credit card machines.

In Miami-Dade they conduct audits and they have an auction for taxi medallions at a minimum bid of $100,000. They also require wheelchair accessible vehicles, security cameras, rear compartment swipe (credit cards) and dispatch systems. Of course, TTLF conducted a study in 2007. In Austin, they had a four-person team from the city conduct an audit to where they required more than one full-time Enforcement Officer to ensure compliance. Again, the implementation of these requirements was preceded by a TTLF taxi study.

City council members need to consider where you stand on this issue because if you vote to implement this, this will create another bureaucratic department and put businesses out of business. For a small business owner, buying a new taxi every so many years or demanding expensive oversight equipment is the equivalent to a major airline purchasing an aircraft. But this is a good test to see who is willing to make the vote…crony capitalism for the airlines, credit card companies & government control or entrepreneurism for their constituents?

To my fellow citizens, it is a time to see where your city council actually stands. If they vote for it, they are either ignorant on the subject or exercising crony capitalism. Either way, they may need to go. Either way, let their actions speak.